Party of Independence and '48

The Party of Independence and '48 was a classical liberal political party in Hungary that was active from 1874 to 1945. The party was founded in 1874 as the "Independence Party", which remained its shorthand nickname throughout its existence. In 1884, the party renamed itself to the "Party of Independence and '48" after other center-left parties joined it, and the party strongly opposed the formation of Austria-Hungary in 1867. From 1896 onwards, it was the main opposition to the Liberal Party of Hungary, and it was in government from 1906 to 1910. The party was divided into the right-wing and pro-Germany faction of Ferenc Kossuth and Albert Apponyi and the left-wing faction of Gyula Justh and Mihaly Karolyi. Following World War I, the party was severely weakened, and it lost its last seat in Parliament (which it had held since 1922) in 1931. In 1935, it won a single seat once more, and it merged with the Independent Smallholders, Agrarian Workers and Civic Party in 1945.